Pittsburgh Half RR: A Costumed Adventure (pics galore!)

Let me quickly take you back a bit to the beginning of this whole thing. Travel aaaaaaall the way back to 2011. Remember it? Well, after my first full in October of 2010, my sister wanted to run too! Yay! We both signed up for the Illinois Half the next April. She lives in Urbana-Champaign, Chambana is you will, so it was going to be a fun visit weekend. Well, early in my training, I hurt my Achilles and it wasn't better by the last day for deferral, so I was out. My sister and her boyfriend were both signed up for the half but tended to talk each other out of going to run. I still went down to watch her first half. Long story short, she hurt her foot really bad (probably the three year old shoes) around mile 9 and walked a lot of the rest and came in around 2:39.

Fast forward two years or so and she wanted revenge on the half. Her boyfriend lives in Pittsburgh now so she wanted to run that one and I offered to run with her and be her pacer. And this time she trained much more consistently.

So Friday DBF came home early, we picked up by brother, Tim, and headed to Pitt. We got in late and stayed up even later talking to my sister, Lindsey (no, her name is not Linzilla like on facebook, or Linza like on her bib )

Saturday everyone was reluctant to get up. We went to IHOP because Tim really wanted to. And rushed to the expo (note: it is super confusing to park in Pittsburgh, we couldn't get to the IHOP parking lot or to figure out how to get around the expo). We made it just after when the Loopsters were going to meet up and I found the Sheetz truck. Everyone was running a bit late though so we were the first there. BillyGoat came first, a very nice guy, then Christine (LadyCapulet) popped in but had to rush out. And then Peg (PegLeg) showed up. Then we did the usual expo stuff.

My sister, Lindsey, and me.

Then we had the afternoon open so we went to the strip district. My sister really wanted to show it to me and it was fun to walk around the shops.

Then we walked back to the car by one of the rivers.

Me, my brother Tim and Lindsey. Yes, I'm significantly shorter than them and don't think I look like them at all. I may have been left on the doorstep...

We drove around getting half lost and then made it over to the incline where the Loopsters were going to meet before dinner.

After going into a bar to use the bathroom and getting half kicked out because my brother isn't 21 (we were going to buy a drink I swear!), we waited around but most of the other Loopsters were running late so we just went down the incline.

DBF, Me, Tim, Lindsey and her boyfriend Matt. We didn't realize we didn't need to squeeze in and crush Tim

We met up with Shawn (not sure of his Loop name), Peg and Christine and her husband and daughter at Hard Rock for dinner. We didn't really eat lunch and I was starving! It was nice to talk a bit with the Loopsters. JuJu was adorable and our waiter was hilarious!

Then we stopped to get some bananas and stuff for the morning and headed home, played some board games, sat around a bit and headed to bed.

And at 4:45 it was time to get up! I love not having a goal tied to a race because I was just jumping with excitement No nervousness or anything! It was great! Lindsey was a bit nervous but still in a good mood once we both got dressed up. We drove downtown and parked maybe a half mile away and walked over. We were already getting looks for the costumes

Hehe

I offered to be the angel since we all know that's the way it should have been. Just kidding, I offered so I could wear wings since the pace would be pretty easy for me.

We stood in line for a porta-potty and talked to a woman and her mother who asked if it was hard to run in a tutu. We had no idea. This was a first for both of us! DBF told me I looked silly being in a costume and having a fuel pack. Hey, you can be a serious runner and have fun!

Then we said goodbye to the boys and headed to the gear check and corrals. We noticed that more people seemed to looked annoyed or angered by us than happy. Not sure why. Apparently, we were not being serious enough or something? We also noticed there were NO other costumed people around. Huh (the boys said they saw a hotdog, bacon and Mario and Luigi behind us, maybe we were the fastest of the costumed? And we saw a few tutus and superheros.)

We squeezed into the corral and slipped behind the 2:15 half pace group right before the corrals "closed." And then we waited. And got a bit bored.

Not sure

Eventually we were walking to the start line!

As we were walking to the start a guy came over soooo excited. He asked if we would go to opposite shoulders and whisper in his ear. He kneeled down in the middle of the crowd for the picture! Ha!

Before we started, I asked Lindsey what her usual pace was and we decided 10 minute miles sounded good. The first few miles were typical crowded weaving in a out of people. It wasn't long until peple sarted cheering for us! If you want people to cheer, you can put your name on your bib and that might work. Or, you can dress up in a costume, because then everyone is your best friend!

We found the boys pretty quickly, they were standing up on top of I don't remember what. DBF was taking our picture and my brother and Matt were holding up signs. (I told DBF I expected a witty sign )

I think this is right before I cracked up mid-stride after reading DBF's sign

At one point, we would split up to pass people and I got back to Lindsey's side and yelled "we look even more ridiculous when separated!" We went through town and over a bridge.

And took some mid run pics

Another bridge

And we found the boys with their cameras

And another bridge!

Feeling good!

Every time I would hear some one say "angel" or "devil" I would throw my hands up and "Woo!" Yeah, I was a Woo girl all day

Plenty of people laughed and cheered for us. I high-fived a few kids and a long line of soliders in uniform. I remember one little girl scream "an angel!" and I'd like to think I made her day. I know I made plenty of people laugh even some of the runners. Running is supposed to be fun!

The first half we did pretty good at starting slow. Around mile 5 we started speeding up a bit. I periodically checked in with Lindsey to make sure she was feeling ok. She said we were going a bit faster than most of her runs but feeling good. So we went with it.

There were some little somewhat steep hills. I don't think the bridges were bad at all but I felt some of the ones in the neighborhoods. I also checked in with Lindsey during the hills since Chambana is about as flat as it can get but she was doing great! Didn't slow down and just powered up the hills! Must have some natural hill climbing muscles or something!

Around mile 8 Lindsey apparently tweaked her ankle in a pot hole. I was unaware since she didn't even miss a step. She said she didn't tell me because she was trying to pretend it didn't happen. Around mile 8 was her downfall in her first half so she was determined to not let it be that again. All I remember from that time was we kept running next to guy that smelled HORRIBLY like BO. Really bad. And we didn't pass him for far too long.

Around here I decided we could use a gel since we both were only drinking water (I was going to drink at every station knowing it was going to get a little hot and Lindsey did too even though she didn't think she needed to at the start. It was probably a good plan.) Anyways, I brought a coffee flavored one for Lindsey since she likes coffee and I remembered she didn't like the chocolate one she had at her first half (she was quite adamant about how gross is was actually ) But she liked that one!

We went through a place with little shops. I be-lined to get some gummy worms they were handing out (I never take them when I am racing hard but they sounded good then!) Lots more cheering and fun stuff.

At 10 I wasn't sure how Lindsey was doing but she said she was ok. I said we only had 3 left and she has run that a bunch of times. Soon after mile 11 we started the long climb before the end. We saw our waiter from Hard Rock and even though I don't think he recognized us he cheered for us!

We kept climbing and Lindsey was doing pretty well. Only slowed a bit. We were passing a ton of people, a lot that stopped to walk. We went on opposite sides to pass a guy that looked like he was hurting and when we came back together in front of him he laughed. Hope that was the pick me up he needed!

And then we finally got to the top around mile 12.5 and then it was downhill!

When my watch said we were getting close, I told Lindsey it was time to give everything she had. We sped up a whole lot and were going super fast! I told her to let the inner track star come out (she ran track in high school).

We got half stopped by a man on a stretcher being taken across the course (later I found out a half marathoner died. Very sad.)

DBF yelled out to us right before the end.

I was loving it and flying. Lindsey was too focused to hear DBF yelling! She was in the zone!

We were sprinting at the end and split up to pass someone right before the finish line. Lindsey was speeding! I was struggling to keep up! And then DONE!

Official time 2:11:00. Pace 10:00 exactly. Great prediction and pacing? I'd say so.

It was about a 30 minute PR for Lindsey! I think that deserves a banana dance.

And she was so excited to have a real time where we ran the whole thing to base other races off of!

We stopped and hugged and high-fived. A guy stopped us to take a picture and then told us to "pretend like we just finished, since we just did" and he would take video. And another guy with video was watching us. You get attention when you're dressed in costume!

We eventually found the boys who had gotten split up.

Siblings!

Another whispering picture with my brother

My awesome photographer/spectator/supporter!

Then we walked back to the car and went to shower. My sister really wanted to take us to the Church Brewery for lunch and this weekend had been about visiting her before I found out other Loopsters would be there so we didn't make it to the Loop meet-up after the race. (Next time guys!)

It was difficult getting around the still closed roads but we made it. And then I proceeded to eat a cup of onion soup (good) and a whole little mushroom pesto pizza (really good), because the word "diet" doesn't mix well with the word "vacation." (But I still lost a pound after that weekend! Victory!)

Then everyone took a nap except for me (couldn't fall asleep.) It was sad to have to leave. But my sister and I said we needed to run in costume again because it was a BLAST! I also may have convinced her to run the half in Indy. Her boyfriend also ran the same half in Illinois as she did and hurt his knee during it. After we finished he said "I know I said never again but I might want to do another half." And the five of us were talking about doing a relay during lunch. Yay for passing the running bug along!

Um it definitely did some weird things. During the first mile it shows us running through buildings and says our best pace was 1:20 or so which we decided was physically impossible. And my watch beeped a long way before pretty much every mile marker.

And I wish I could have seen you more but I will definitely get to hang out for the Biggest Loser half! Should be tons of fun!

Originally Posted by PegLeg1983:

Also, how come did your Garmin work? Mine was completely off. Showed 7:14 for first mile, 13.89 at the finish, and claims I ran at 8:29 pace. !!! It also had over 500 feet for elevation gain, and indicates that I forded some rivers and zig-zagged most of the streets in the first 5 miles....

I am glad to see only the Angel Bangle Pumped and the Devil didn't! Nice race and what a fun report!! And your DBF is correct... those of us that know you are not fooled . Here is for you and your sis .

You're a pacing GENIUS!! Of course, I knew this. Glad that Linzilla got to find out, too. (Frankly, I like Linzilla. It makes me smile when I see it. Also, my autocorrect seems to know to fill l-i-n with Linzilla. So, it must be right. )

This was a great bloop. Sounds like a great race!! Congrats to you both!!!

It was great meeting you and the gang. You are such a nice person,hope we can meet again at another loop meet -up down the road.. Yay!! For Linzilla!!! Love the costomes!! What perfect weather (that doesn't happen very often in Pittsburgh) lol!!! Take care and keep running!!

DBF's sign was perfect! I can only imagine sucking air while trying to go up a tough hill, only to have an angel pass me on one side and the devil pass me on the other; "Keep going, you're doing well," "You suck! what are you thinking!" It looks like you had a great weekend!

Now why in the world would anyone want to leave you on the doorstep? Especially since you're the virtuous one (I know this because of the costumes)! Anyway, if you hadn't stated that races are supposed to be fun, this wonderful post and all those pics would have made it crystal clear!

You and your sister do both look like your brother, just in totally different ways! And not much like each other at all! But super cute in your costumes:-) Great job pacing her and congrats to her on a whopper of a PR!!!!

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